Manchester police locate girl seen in pajamas Wednesday morning

January 03. 2013 1:11PM
MANCHESTER -- The pajama-clad Manchester girl who left a bicycle behind when stopped by a stranger Wednesday morning has been found, after family members recognized her bicycle in media reports, police said.

The girl had fibbed to a woman who stopped her when she saw the girl riding her bicycle Wednesday morning at Salmon and Elm streets. The 9-year-old girl had left her home without permission and made up a story about her family being victimized by the crime, police said.

"When the girl realized the police were going to be contacted, she became frightened that she would get into trouble for leaving the house without permission," police said in a statement. "She ran off from the woman, leaving her bike behind, and returned home before her family realized she was gone."

She attended school, and her parents only realized something happened when they saw images of her bicycle in media accounts.

They called her school, which contacted the Manchester police juvenile division. No harm had come to the family, police said.